Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-16
a SORT OF FAMILY FEUD.
New Light Thrown on the Texas
Rumpus.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-In the Senate
to-day Mr.. Hoar offered a resolution au-
thorizing the subcommittee of the Com
mlttee on Privileges and Elections in
curing into the Washington county, Tex,
troubles, to inquire whether there had
been any attempt by the United States
District Attorney for the Western DIS
trict of Texas, or by the United States
Marshal or any of his deputies to inter-
lere with the investigation, or to obstruct
| and 1ntimldate witnesses. Tne resoluti ton
was laid over under objection.
BEGINNING OF THE INVESTIGATION.
The investigation OF the alleged politi-
Cal outrages in Washington county,
Tex, was begun by the ub-committee
OF the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections this morning. The investi-
eating committee consists of Messrs.
Eyarts, chairman; Teller. Spooner, Pugh
and Eustis. All were present during the
morning session, but Messrs. Evarts and
Pugh were called away to attend a meet
| ing of the Judiciary Committee. Judge
Lafayette Kirk, County Judge OF WASH
lngton county, Tex, and Lewis R. Bryan,
| lawyer OF Brenham, were present as
counsel Tor the defense, and L. d. Godon
was present to serve in the same ca
pactty Tor the prosecution.
THE FIRST WITNESS.
Marshall Booker, farmer of
Washington county, Tex, 26 years
old, an independent in poll
tics, testified that he was In COM
pany with C. p. Spann, one OF the judges
of the election OF Lofts precinct, carrying
the ballot box to Brennan, when the box
was taken by masked men, who "held
them up" and took from their wagon the
ballot and tally sheets.
C.P. Spann, Democrat, testified to the
same effect as the previous witness, and
added that he mad no reason to antici pate
any such thing until O'clock that after
noon. when he heard that the negroes had
murdered ID. Bolton IN a neighboring pre-
cInct and that the ballot box at Gray ball,
where there was large colored maj0rI-
tY, had been destroyed. The witness mad
intended TO delay until the following Sat-
telligence inspired him to start at once.
Lofts precinct is heavily Republican.
THE CANDIDATES.
On cross-examlnati0n the witness said
there were negro candidates on both
tickets. One was a straight sRepublican
and the other mixed. There was no Demo-
cratic ticket. Some of the candidates on
the winning ticket had no opposition,
being Endorsed by both parties. Some of
the successful candidates were C0lOred
men. The witness had no knowledge OF
which party was responsible for the cap
ture of the box. He said that the county
had generally gone Republican since the
war, though few times Democratic. He
had never known straight Democratic
ticket to be successful during the last
ten years uutil Two years ago.
. STOPPED THE COUNT.
T. NJ. Jones (colored), a school teach
er. % years old, was sworn. He was
clerk of the election in the Fluellyn vot-
ing precinct at the last election. One hun.
dred and tifty-nine votes were cast, but
only SO had been counted when the count
was interrupted by masked men who
threatened him and he ran, and did not
return. 1t was at this precinct and on this
evening that d. Bolton was killed, as was
alleged, by Polk Hill (cOlored }, who was
in the house when disguised men entered.
Hill mad been at the polls armed during
the day. To Mr.. Spooner the witness said
Bolton was one of the disguised intru-
ders, and had a pistol in his hand when
he was shot. Bottoms father was a can
didate for office and his name was on hoth
tickets. He was, however, badly beaten.
TheO Fielder, another colored man, was in
theIroom when the intruders came in. The
witness did not see him have any arms.
He has since been nung.